Iwanted Madi to meet Shane, but giving her extra time was the right choice based on the gratitude emanating from her eyes as she swallowed hard. Like she was fighting back tears.
“Thank you. Now go see Shane.”
The man had practically raised me, but I’d never called him anything but Sir when I was a kid, and Shane after graduating basic training.
He’d served as a SEAL and was the reason I joined the Navy. I wanted to follow in his footsteps and make something of myself.
Shane was the role model my father couldn’t be. And I wasn’t the only one. Shane opened his ranch to strays and wayward teens, and offered as much help and guidance as we’d accept.
Some accepted until they realized he didn’t give handouts. Some stayed until they got back on their feet.
Some, like me, stayed, worked our asses off, and thanked him for everything he taught us every time we returned to the ranch.
Refusing to be in a wheelchair when I greeted him, I walked out of Madi’s room.
Shane’s beefy arms were open; he was ready to pull me into a bear hug, but stopped short when his eyes shifted to my bandaged arm. “Sorry, emotions got the best of me for a second there.”
I slipped my arm out of the sling, held it out of the way, and closed the distance.
“I heard what you did.”
“I had to.” I choked back the emotion threatening to leak out of my eyes.
“I know.” He pulled back and squeezed my right shoulder. “I know.”
He would’ve done the same thing.
We weren’t big on small talk, so I went straight to what mattered. “I want to introduce you to Madi, but it’ll have to wait until after dinner.”
Which reminded me. “Mary, Madi would like some help.”
“Where’s your wheelchair?” Leave it up to Mary to call me out.
“I don’t really need it. I hurt my arm, not my legs.”
“Boy, don’t sass,” Shane ordered.
Properly chastised, I apologized to Mary while everyone within hearing distance snickered.
“I’ll go get it.”
I followed Mary to the door and waited for her to push the chair to me. “I know you don’t need it, but there’s no harm in following the rules.”
No, just damage to my ego.
There was no way I’d be walking anywhere, so I plopped my ass in the bare-bones, hospital wheelchair.
“Have you eaten?” I asked Shane. “I could go for some non-patient hospital food.”
“I could eat.”
“Then I’ll let you push me to the cafeteria.”
Shane shook hands with John before getting behind me and grabbing the handles.
“Would you feel better about your ride if I popped a wheelie?” Shane asked, a hint of youthful humor in his voice.
“Hell yeah, I would.” If anyone on staff saw us, we’d get an earful, but it’d be worth it.
